Hunger Games fans thrilled by return of Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are reportedly set to return to the Hunger Games in next year's highly anticipated prequel.

The pair last starred together in Mockingjay - Part 2, the climactic installment of the original film series.

US magazines The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported that Lawrence, 35, returns as Katniss Everdeen while Hutcherson, 33, will reprise his role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

They suggest the actors will appear in a flash-forward sequence which features in the novel the new film's based on.

The production company Lionsgate did not respond to a request for comment.

Lawrence, who became a household name playing Katniss, previously said she'd be "totally" up for coming back as the character.

And last month, Hutcherson told US magazine Variety he'd "be there in a heartbeat" if he was asked to come back.

"It would not take any convincing at all," he said.

Hunger Games fans were ecstatic at news the beloved characters would be making a new appearance.

One wrote: "For non-Hunger Games fans this is like Rihanna returning to music."

Another added: "It's basically Jesus returning to Earth."

But there were some who weren't happy to see the information revealed, saying it could have been kept an "emotional" surprise.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping also stars McKenna Grace, Maya Hawke and Ralph Fiennes and is due to hit cinemas in November 2026.

Author Suzanne Collins' book of the same name sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide during its release week earlier this year - the biggest debut for one of her books.

The Hunger Games series has reportedly made $3.3bn since the release of the first movie in 2012, and a theatre version recently launched.

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